BollywoodLife talks to the multitalented Tarana Raja, the actor playing Neha in Bade Acche Lagte Hain

She is a part of the other pair in Bade Acche Lagte Hain that we love – Vikram (Jai Kalra) and Neha (Tarana). She lights up the screen – or, in her case, even the radio waves – with her vivacious personality. She is an RJ, a film and television actor, a host, compere, dancer…what have you. Multitalented Tarana Raja talks to BollywoodLife about her success mantra, her zest for life, her passion for her work and, of course, Bade Acche Lagte Hain….

All of you (Ram Kapoor, Sakshi Tanwar, Jai Kalra and Tarana) seem to having a lot of fun in Bade Acche Lagte Hain…are you friends in real life?

The show is just fantastic! People like watching it and we love doing it because from day one the cast has just gelled together. I don’t know how, because none of us has worked together in the past. Of course, I knew of Ram and Sakshi and they did know me too. But Jai – I had never met him ever! We just hit it off. The first time we all met was at a creative meeting to discuss our characters. As usual, the meeting started late and we had two hours of bonding to do. Everybody just started talking and realised it was a fun bunch of people. Plus, we’ve all taken on the show because we believed that it’s different and real…. We try. Sometimes it goes a bit crazy but it’s a TRP-driven game. You don’t really want it to be a niche, an ‘only some people in the building watch it’ kinda show. We want the numbers, so we try to keep it as real as possible and that’s the balance we’re trying to maintain.

How would you have dealt with a husband like Ram Kapoor in Bade Acche Lagte Hain, in real life?

I would also probably have fallen in love with him. Because Priya is a very mature, sensible woman who didn’t get swept off her feet. She actually disliked Ram initially, then as she got to know him better, she realised that they are very similar people where it matters – they are both family-oriented, very grounded, self-righteous, principled – which is why it has taken them so long to fall in love. Because they married as a compromise and decided that they had to tolerate each other. Then it became ‘we like hanging out together’, to ‘I think I kinda like him’ to ‘I love him’. It’s a healthy growth.

What is your take on the kissing scene controversy?

I think it’s very sweet that people get scandalised so easily (sarcastically). But I feel viewers are much more open than producers give them credit for. Ekta (Kapoor) felt that it wouldn’t look real if we didn’t show Ram and Priya kissing. The days of showing two flowers kissing symbolically are gone. Also, the show is aired 10.30pm. So audiences are mature enough for it. And even if children see it, it’s okay. It’s only when parents make a brouhaha about it that kids feel there’s something objectionable.

Do you as actors have any contribution to the writing of the show?

The creative heads will come up with a story and an idea of where the show’s gonna go. They brief us on where the story is by and large heading, with no indication of how and when. Screenplays are sometimes shared with us, which help us in understanding what the scene is meant to do. When the dialogues come, we have the freedom to make them our own – which means we will read, but we won’t mug up the lines; we say them in our own words.

It sure looks like that. The show comes across as very natural and that’s what makes it different….

Yeah, you can tell we’re improvising. All of us do it! We have the freedom to do so. They don’t object as long as the intent is portrayed. Honestly, writers come and go, but the actor has stuck to that role. So I know my character Neha better than any new writer who walks in. I will know the history of what Neha can say and cannot say based on her character.

I like doing it all. If you have tons of energy, you pretty much enjoy doing everything. I just cannot decide which one to focus on.

Does the lack of focus lead to problems?

It does. But it keeps me busy. It also doesn’t make me rely on any one stream of income. So you have ups and downs like everybody in the entertainment business has, but I usually keep myself safer by having that many different interests. Even if I may not have a show on the air, I would be still working…but that’s the good side. The flip side is that people sometimes get confused as to what to take you as – like a lot of people know me as RJ Tarana, and it’s a pleasant revelation (I hope) when they realise that I am also Neha from Bade Acche Lagte Hain. And the people who’ve known me as an actor all these years would have no clue that I am an RJ – unless they’re living in Mumbai. But I think of it as another dimension to me and it makes people happy.

What is the secret of your energy?

From childhood, I’ve been one hyper kid. And the hyper-ness is somehow working, so far.

So how did your mom manage you as child?

My mother’s another hyper one! I’ve completely taken it from her.

Should I then ask how your dad managed both of you?

I think my dad just happily ignored us (tongue-in-cheek).

And how did you channel such an abundance of energy?

I was always put in a lot of classes because I was such an energetic kid. I’ve learnt dancing for more than 20 years – I did Kathak for 12 years and I did Shiamak (Davar) for another 10 years….lots and lots of dancing!

Since you dance, haven’t you given choreography a thought as a career option?

There are too many things that I did already. Acting, hosting on stage, hosting on TV – pretty much the same line of work, as you’re a performer. RJ-ing is similar, but it’s just your voice, not your face. But as far as dancing was concerned, I was like ‘Now one more thing I don’t wanna do’. And I enjoy the process of dancing, but am not so much into choreography. It was a passion and a hobby. I was never really interested in making a living of it.

Do you have any plans to turn to direction?

My entire cast (co-stars of Bade Acche…) thinks I should become a director or a production guy or a scheduler (laughs), because I am involved in every department. I lurrrve looking into the nitty-gritty of a scene. I will notice every junior artiste, whether the shoes they are wearing are right, or they are maintaining continuity. It’s very annoying for my co-actors, but they indulge me and laugh; and when I get very annoying, they shut me up. Sakshi and me have decided that our next job is gonna be of producer and director. We’re totally involved in like ‘Woh curtain alag tha’ and stuff. This has nothing to do with shot-taking. We are involved in the whole scene, and with such keen interest; we are involved every department which is not even ours. If you’ve been around for so long, you will know these things. Unless you’re wrapped up in your own world. We’re not those kind of people.

Does Ekta Kapoor give you that much freedom? Has she offered you any more shows?

It has nothing to do with her. It’s our director who indulges us. As for Ekta, all Balaji Telefilms shows that I have done were because Ekta has said ‘I want her to play this role’. From Vishakha in Kasauti Zindagi Kay to Pooja in Kuchh Is Tarah to Kkusum to Neha in Bade Acche Lagte Hain. I have never regretted doing a Balaji show, because it’s always a show that I have enjoyed.

In Bollywood, you have starred in Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Jodi Breakers. Have any more films been offered to you recently?

The two weeks that Jodi Breakers ran in the theatres, all the producers and directors watched it and liked me (laughs). If not, they should watch Bade Acche Lagte Hain and write a role for me. It’s difficult. I do character roles and whenever I see a film that I like, I realise that there are barely any female parts that are strong and meaty enough for you to want to do them. You shouldn’t be in a film just for the sake of being in a film. You should be noticed. Those roles are few and far in between. But when they come by, I like the freedom of saying yes or no.

You are known to have a very happy-go-lucky attitude on screen and in real life. Would you like to do intense roles?

A role can be intense or whatever – it all depends on the director. Most directors write their films with certain characters and people to play those characters in mind. So you not making it in a movie after an audition has nothing to do with how good and bad an actor you are. It has to do with whether or not you meet the director’s vision. I don’t take it personally if someone says sorry, you don’t fit the part. If they can imagine me in something, then I say ‘yes, why not?’.

How do you manage the stress – shooting for almost a month or so at a stretch for Bade Acche Lagte Hain?

I don’t understand what the stress is about. It’s my choice. If I don’t wanna do it, I won’t. I don’t do anything that I have to do. You can either choose to be stressed about something, or deal with it and make peace with it. I go by that principle.

So you’re not falling into the trap of ‘Okay, I’m getting so much money, so I’m gonna do so many soaps’? There is no temptation of doing another show?

No, I do one soap (at a time). There is no temptation, ‘cos I do a lot of corporate shows, hosting on stage. I like to travel. And I have a very nice circle of friends. We meet very often. I am someone who can work 15hours a day, get home, quickly change and then head out to meet my friends – even if for just an hour! Because I thrive on maybe six hours of sleep. I’m a bit of a control freak. I don’t like it when I am not in control. The minute you take on two daily soap operas, your life is over. You have no choice but to be at the whim and fancy of your producer.

I think I am blessed, because I don’t really work out very often. A good week will be if I go to the gym twice. I think the secret to the fitness is that I am perpetually hungry. I eat about six-seven meals a day. Small meals through the day are recommended if you eat healthy. I eat whatever I please (laughs). I think my hyperness is using up the energy, so I don’t really have to burn what I eat. But, I don’t get carried away – I don’t eat too much meetha (sweets). I will only eat if it’s my fave ice-cream flavour, or I eat a piece of chocolate and not the whole bar. But I like bread, so I have a sandwich every day. And if you throw protein into every meal, you’re pretty much sorted. You have to have a well balanced meal. The Indian diet is very carb heavy, so evenif you are eating your alu and roti, add dal, paneer or chicken. That’s what I have managed to do over the last couple of years and it seems to be working (smiles).